New Data Show Student Homelessness Continues to Rise in New York City and New York State

10.15.2018 | Today, the New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS-TEACHS), a project of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), posted new data showing the number of students in New York City and New York State schools identified as homeless during the 2017-2018 school year.

The data come from the New York State Education Department’s Student Information Repository System (SIRS) and show that during the 2017-2018 school year:

152,839 students were identified as homeless by New York State school districts and charter schools, an increase of 4,624 students from the 2016-2017 school year.

114,659 students were identified as homeless by New York City school districts and charter schools, an increase of 3,097 students from the 2016-2017 school year.

More than one in ten students in New York City schools was identified as homeless.

The number of New York City students identified as homeless increased by 66% since the 2010-2011 school year.

“The number of students who are homeless in New York City would fill Yankee Stadium twice,” said Kim Sweet, AFC’s Executive Director. “While the City works to address the overwhelming problem of homelessness, it must take bold action to ensure that students who are homeless get an excellent education and do not get stuck in a cycle of poverty.”

Over the past few years, the City has taken some positive steps to support students who are homeless, including offering yellow bus service to kindergarten through sixth grade students living in shelter, increasing pre-K enrollment among children living in shelter, and providing after-school reading programs at certain shelters. Mayor de Blasio and the City Council also allocated funding for 69 Department of Education social workers to work in schools with high populations of students living in shelter during the 2018-2019 school year. These “Bridging the Gap” social workers provide counseling to students who are homeless to help address the trauma often associated with housing loss, connect them to academic support and mental health services, and work to improve attendance. However, more than 100 city schools have at least 50 students living in shelters and no Bridging the Gap social worker to focus on the needs of these students. In addition, for the past three years, the Mayor has funded the social workers for only one year at a time instead of providing long-term funding. Most recently, Chancellor Carranza appointed LaShawn Robinson to the new position of Deputy Chancellor of School Climate and Wellness and tasked her with strengthening support for students who are homeless.

“We are pleased that Chancellor Carranza and Deputy Chancellor Robinson have identified addressing the needs of students who are homeless as a priority for this school year,” Sweet said. “Given the persistent problem of student homelessness, the City must redouble its efforts, including providing long-term funding for social workers to help ensure that these students can get to school every day and receive the counseling and academic support they need to succeed.”